Loudness log for recovery of gated loudness measurements and associated analyzer

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a system for evaluating loudness data. The system includes an audio input to receive an audio signal, a loudness measurer structured to continuously measure a loudness of the audio signal, and a data logger structured to record the measured loudness data in a loudness data log. Other embodiments may also include a log analyzer to receive the logged loudness data and make evaluations based on the data. The log analyzer includes a log input structured to receive the loudness data log and a violation module structured to determine if data in the loudness data log indicates a loudness violation occurred. Methods are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for evaluating loudness data from a television program distributor, the system comprising:
 a log generator including:
 an audio input structured to receive an audio signal from the program distributor in the form of audio data, 
 a loudness measurer structured to continuously measure a loudness of the audio signal over given integration periods, and 
 a data logger structured to record the measured loudness data in a loudness data log; and 
   a log analyzer, including:
 a log input structured to receive the loudness data log; and 
 a violation module structured to determine if the measured loudness data in the loudness data log indicates a loudness violation occurred. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system for evaluating loudness data according to  claim 1  in which the data logger records measured loudness data in the loudness data log at a rate of more than one record per given integration period. 
     
     
         3 . The system for evaluating loudness data according to  claim 1 , in which the data logger is further structured to store in the loudness data log at least one of short-term measured loudness data, a dialnorm, gated loudness data, timestamps, true peak level, and timecode information. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The system for evaluating loudness data according to  claim 1 , further comprising a playlog input structured to receive program information that correlates to the loudness data log, and in which the violation module is structured to associate particular portions of the program information with the loudness violation. 
     
     
         6 . The system for evaluating loudness data according to  claim 5 , in which the data logger is further structured to store at least one of short-term measured loudness data and gated loudness data in the loudness data log, and in which the violation module is further structured to determine if data in the loudness data log indicates a short-term loudness violation or a gated loudness violation occurred, and structured to associate particular portions of the program information with the loudness violation. 
     
     
         7 . A data log analyzer for evaluating loudness data, comprising:
 a log input structured to receive a loudness data log that includes measured loudness data of an audio input stream;   an input structured to receive program information that correlates to the loudness data log; and   a violation module structured to determine if the measured loudness data in the loudness data log indicates a loudness violation occurred, and structured to associate particular portions of the program information with the loudness violation.   
     
     
         8 . The system for evaluating loudness data of  claim 7 , in which the loudness data log additionally includes short-term loudness measurements and gated loudness measurements of the audio input stream, and in which the violation module is structured to analyze the short-term loudness data and the gated loudness measurements to determine if a violation occurred. 
     
     
         9 . The system for evaluating loudness data of  claim 6 , in which the loudness data log further comprises one or more metadata, timestamps, timecode, and synchronization data. 
     
     
         10 . A method of measuring and reporting loudness data, the method comprising:
 receiving an audio signal;   measuring loudness data of the audio signal during regular intervals;   recording the measured loudness data in a loudness data log; and   determining if the measured loudness data in the loudness data log indicates a loudness violation occurred.   
     
     
         11 . The method of measuring and reporting loudness data of  claim 10  in which
 recording the measured loudness data occurs comprises recording at a rate of more than one data value per interval. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of measuring and reporting loudness data of  claim 10 , further comprising storing in the loudness data log, at least one of short-term measured loudness data, a dialnorm, gated loudness data, timestamps, true peak level, and timecode information. 
     
     
         13 . A method for automatically detecting audio violations, comprising:
 receiving an audio signal in the form of audio data;   receiving playout data that corresponds to periods when the audio data was transmitted for playback;   measuring loudness data of the audio signal;   recording the measured loudness data in a loudness data log;   accessing the loudness data log after the measured loudness data has been stored;   comparing the measured loudness data in the loudness data log to identify potential loudness violations; and   associating the identified potential loudness violations to particular periods within the playout data.   
     
     
         14 . The method for automatically detecting audio violations according to  claim 13 , further comprising recording at least one of short-term measured loudness data, a dialnorm, gated loudness data, timestamps, true peak level, and timecode information in the loudness data log. 
     
     
         15 . The method for automatically detecting audio violations according to  claim 14 , in which comparing the data in the loudness data log to identify potential loudness violations comprises comparing short-term measured loudness data. 
     
     
         16 . The method for automatically detecting audio violations according to  claim 14 , in which comparing the data in the loudness data log to identify potential loudness violations comprises comparing gated loudness data.